Don Ray in David has posted Marion's ordeal in his blog and referenced Chiriqui Life. http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2017/01/30/another-living-in-panama-guest-post/
Everyone is always responsible for their security. That should be a given. However, the level of security is the unknown part of the equation. Where I live in Texas, I have a storage shed with a couple thousand dollars of equipment. It has no lock on the door, the back yard fence is a deterrent only to stray dogs and honest people and yet nothing has ever gone missing. In Panama, I would be lucky if the whole shed wasn't taken.
In Chiriqui, some expats have learned from others' misfortunes and increased their security. Bars on doors and windows are added but they can be removed with fairly little effort or the thieves figure a way to reach any loot placed near the open window. So, alarms systems are added. The thieves cut the power or disable the wiring. So, perimeter fences are built to keep watchdogs as a defense. Dogs are poisoned, a few days later, the break-in happens. Finally, every effort is applied to prevent the thugs from getting near the residence. So, the thieves wait nearby and as the owners exit their vehicle, they are attacked and taken inside.
The part of the equation that is missing is: there is no punishment for the thugs doing the crime. Until such time as Panama changes the law regarding minors, the attacks will continue and the targets will be those individuals who provide the most loot from the attack. Gringos are not being targeted; they just happen to have the most loot and the least connection to the locals.